On a LinkedIn group discussion board, Sam complained recently:
“The reason that I see companies can’t find a qualified person is because they won’t train people and expect people to have everything they are looking for, and then they won’t pay the people what they are worth. I’ve not had a full time job since 2007, and have worked part-time since early 2011. I want an outside sales position or Account Manager position in the Chemical Industry, and my needs are reasonable, but no success yet.”
Really? Don’t be Sam!
Check your victim statements; have you used any of these recently?
- There are no jobs out there.
- Companies won’t hire unemployed people.
- I’m doing everything right; the companies don’t see my value.
- I’ve never had to look for a job; I just put the word out with my buddies that I’m available.
- Job descriptions are horribly written; they should do a better job.
Okay, time to snap out of it! Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Fess Up. Admit that the accountability is YOURS and yours alone. If you’re not willing to do it, then stop here, delete this article, and go back to what was (not) working for you.
Step 2: Learn. Stop everything you are doing and re-learn how to find a job. It’s a new era of job search out there, for every level, whether you are a fresh college graduate or a senior executive. Yes, you! When is the last time you bought a book on how to find a job? When did you go to the internet and type “How to interview?” When is the last time you learned the latest trends about résumés then updated yours? Have you taken great LinkedIn tutorials on how to have a GREAT profile?
Step 3: Re-Start Your Entire Approach. Yes, from beginning to end. Start. Over.
- Start with writing out your job search goal statement, outline your job search plan daily, weekly, monthly with goals assigned to each activity.
- Re-do your résumé, ensuring you are using the industry’s key words, not words used by your prior companies. Make yourself relevant!
- Practice the most common interview questions NOW; not the night before the interview.
- Write a brand new cover letter that uses less, “I, I, I, me, me, me,” and more, “you, yours, your company.”
- Broaden your activities, ranging from online applications to face-to-face networking, to online connecting via LinkedIn, to cold-calling your target company senior executives. And much more.
- Build your Job Tracker tool so you capture every step of the process, follow-up brilliantly, and keep the process moving forward.
- Now that you have a process, juggle ten real job opportunities at the same time.
If you need help with any of these steps or more, get the help! My book, Cut the Crap, Get a Job! comes with 9 free downloadable Job Search Tools to help you with every step of your BRAND NEW job search effort.
It’s time to stop the whining, stop being the victim, and get employed FAST.
Please ask your questions and leave your comments below; I’d like to hear from you!
